GB2060580A - Apparatus for printing and issuing tickets, vouchers or the like and providing an accounting print- out - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for printing and issuing tickets and vouchers as travel permits for public transport and for accounting the issued documents is organised on the basis of production lines 1, 2, 3, 4. Assigned to each production line is a storage device 11, 12, 13, 14 to receive cards 11', 12' or strip material 13', 13'', 14' and a conveying device 15, 17, 23, 29 to bring the cards and the strip material to a printing station. All the production lines are served by a common linearly transversely displaceable printing unit 36 with a processor-controlled needle printing head 40 whose position relative to the cards or strip materials to be printed is fixed by cross- positioning means 35.1-35.4, 37' and is selected by a processor- controlled servomotor 42. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for printing and issuing tickets, vouchers or the like and providing an accounting print-out The invention relates to apparatus for printing and issuing tickets, vouchers, stamps, coupons or the like, particularly although not exclusively for use as travel permits, especially season tickets. A great number of different types of such permits are required by a transport undertaking. For example, in conurbations with an urban centre of 250,000 to 300,000 inhabitants and 10 to 12 suburban municipalities of the same size, approximately 200 different types of travel permit may be issued at several hundred ticket offices.In order to rationalie the production of these permits, apparatus is used which by printing onto preformed and possibly preprinted blanks or strip material, converts them into valid travel permits of special, individual or categorised type.

Such apparatus, incorporating also an accounting unit, is already used at mobile and permanent ticket offices, where pressing a button calls up a particular travel permit, which is then issued after payment of the fare, which can be displayed if need be. These machines, which are already widespread, operate with microprocessors which are simple to operate for a certain type of sale, are flexibly programmable, are safeguarded against incorrect operation and enable tariff changes to be effected easily.

It is often disadvantageous that, although the printing is adaptable without difficulty to relatively rapidly varying requirements, such as the user category of the traveller, the transport distance and the type of tariff (adult, child, dog, etc), according to time (date, clock time) and price, nevertheless the machine can issue only few types of ticket. A further disadvantage is that the machine is rendered unwieldy by separate printing systems and takes up a large amount of space and, furthermore, there are used for supplying cards, strips, coupons and the like cassette systems which require additional space for storage and labour for filling up.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide apparatus for printing and issuing tickets and vouchers and the like and providing an accounting print-out, including a single printing device operating with a plurality of stacking, delivery and print-out points organised functionally in a parallel arrangement, and in which a single or, common to all, a total accounting unit can be operatively associated with each of these parallel arrangements.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for printing and issuing tickets and vouchers or the like and providing an accounting print-out, comprising a plurality of storage devices arranged in production lines and for receiving blank material for forming tickets, vouchers or the like, and an accounting register, a plurality of conveying devices associated with respective storage devices and arranged to convey said blank material along a respective production line to a respective printing station, each production line having at least one feed limiting means for correctly positioning the respective blank material for the start of printing, a servo-motor driven transversely displaceably printing unit adapted to serve all said stations, and cross-positioning means being provided for correctly positioning said unit at said stations for the start of printing.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the mechanical construction of apparatus in accordance with the invention, with a specific stacking, conveying, printing, issuing and accounting arrangement.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a typical card issuing arrangement for use in a device according to Figure 1.

In the following description of a device according to the invention, which is designed preferably for printing and issuing subscription tickets and coupons and to calculate the cost of the issued documents the following parts of the device are not explained because they do not belong to the actual invention: a) the housing with a keyboard organised to facilitate the data input and with visual display means for the inputted data and the issue price for the documents supplied (subscription card, coupons, etc), also for accounting, statistics, error notification, etc.

b) A processor which is programmable for the basic data of the documents suppliable by the device and having associated storage means and signal output means.

c) The control elements and feed means for selecting the desired type of document and for conveying the format raw material (card or paper blank, paper chart strip) to the print-out point.

d) The printing-point selector for the writing device and the text input and text positioning means.

e) The means for recording and transmitting the number of individual documents and the single andjor overall totals of the cost amounts for the documents issued over a certain period of time.

f) The means for the functional programming of the processor, among other things also the software.

g) A date and calendar processor, safeguarded against mains failure, to provide the time data.

All the parts, elements and means which are listed under a) to g) can be designed in known way and/or be the subject of special protection rights.

The device in the illustration according to Figure 1 contains three so-called (travel permit) document lines 1, 2 and 3 as well as a print-out line 4 which provides the accounting data and whose practically parallel arrangement is characterised by the arrows assigned to the reference numerals. The illustration is such that the stacks of raw material for said lines 1 to 4 lie next to one another at the top right-hand margin of the picture, which, while corresponding to preferred practice, is in no way a stipulation. The lines 1 to 3 end at the bottom left-hand margin of the picture in the region of an issuing slit 5 which is suggested schematically with broken lines as being mounted fixedly on the housing (not shown).

The accounting print-out line 4 is preferably located completely on the inside of the housing and is accessible only after said housing has been opened.

Shown standing at right angles to the lines 1 to 4 are functional element lines 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 which are arranged, likewise, practically parallel to one another and approximately in the direction of the arrows assigned to the reference numerals 6 to 10. As already mentioned with regard to the lines 1 to 4, here, also, a strictly linear arrangement corresponds to practice, but is not absolutely essential in the individual case.

In the (imaginary) regions of intersection of the document lines 1 to 4 with the functional element line 6 there is situated at the forefront or in the line 1 a first card stacker 11 for a certain first card format 11' with possible basic lettering and field division imprints. To the left of this, in the line 2, there is a second card stacker 12 of the same or a divergent design for a certain second card format 12' which can be provided, in the same way as the first, with a basic imprint. Shown in the line 3 is a first supply roll 13 which can contain, for example, a carrier strip 13' with a self-adherent strip 13" applied thereon. Finally, shown in the line 4 is a second supply roll 14 which contains, for example, a blank single-alyer paper strip 14'.

In the (imaginary) regions of intersection of the document lines 1 to 4 with the functional element line 7 there is situated in the region of intersection 1-7 a first feed roller/back-pressure roller pair 1 5 which consists of a feed roller 15' with gripping surface and a back-pressure roller 15" which is constantly urged against the feed roller 15' by a spring 16. In the region of intersection 2-7 there is a second feed roller/back-pressure roller pair 17 which likewise consists of a feed roller 17' and a back-pressure roller 17" which is, in turn, urged against the feed roller 17' by a spring 18.The two feed rollers 1 5', 1 7' sit on a continuous, possibly common drive shaft 19 whose free end carries a toothed-belt pulley 20 which is driven via a toothed belt 21 by a card feed motor 22 common to the two card lines 1 and 2. Each of the feed roller/back-pressure roller pairs 1 5, 1 7 is aligned with the line of conveyance along which the card 11' or 12' moves out of the respective card stacker 11 or 12.

In the region of intersection 3-7 there is a further feed roller/back-pressure roller pair 23 which consists of a feed roller 23' and a backpressure roller 23". The latter is urged constantly against the feed roller 23' by a spring 24. The feed roller 23' is mounted on a shaft on which sits a toothed-belt pulley 26. This is connected operatively to a further feed motor 28 via a toothed belt 27.

Finally, in the region of intersection 4-7 or displaced parallel thereto there is a fourth feed roller/back-pressure roller pair 29 with a feed roller 29' and a back-pressure roller 29". The former sits on a shaft 30 which is driven by a third feed motor 31.

There lies on the functional element line 8 a holding-down arrangement 32 which contains a holding-down supporting bar 32' with resilient holding-down elements 32.1-32.4 which are centred on the respective document line 1-4 and serve as retaining means for the document which runs or is pushed over a backing table 33.

The functional element lines 9 and 10 belong together in respect of their operation. 34 denotes a support plate for fastening light barrier means 35.1-35.5, whose purpose is explained below in connection with the positioning of the needle printing head unit 36. The latter consists substantially of a slide 37 which is mounted displaceably on guide rods 38 held in lateral carriers 39 integral with the frame and of a matrix printing head, especially needle printing head 40 of conventional type, which is mounted vertically adjustably on the slide 37.The needle printing head slide 37 which is movable in only one dimension by means of its holding means 38, 39 is driven by a toothed-belt drive arrangement 41 which contains a toothed belt 41', a guide roller 41 " and a servo, especially stepping motor 42, on the drive shaft end of which sits a toothed-belt pulley 42'. By selectively energising the stepping motor 42 the slide 37 is displaceable into certain positions in the region of the document lines 1 to 4. A positioning projection 37' on the slide 37 which is intended to engage into the cut-outs of the light barrier means 35.1 to 35.5 ensures the correct positioning of the slide relative to the documents to be printed.

Immediately underneath the needle holder 40' of the printing head 40 an ink ribbon 43 is guided, which is supplied from a cassette 44 via guide rollers 45 by a motor 46 at the rate of composition of the letters and which is reeled back into this cassette. The functional element line 10 also includes light barrier elements 47.1 to 47.3 and 48 in the form of transmitting and receiving elements to monitor the readiness for issue of the documents which arrive at the issuing point on the document lines 1 to 3.

In the working direction in front of the functional element line 10 there lie a cutter 49 with a cutting blade 49' and with a blade drive magnet 498 as well as a guide roller 50 for the paper strip 14" which runs off from the supply roll 14 and is wound onto a rewinding roll 51.

To explain the mode of operation of the device illustrated schematically in Figure 1 and constructed according to the invention, document line 3 is to be taken as a starting-point, in which also the transversely displaceable needle printing head unit 36 is shown. The functional cycles are programmed in a microprocessor not shown and are initiated or called up, as required, by keying in a keyboard likewise not shown. The actions and data are displayed, as necessary, on an analogue display.

It should also be pointed out that Figure 1 shows, in respect of the strip combination 1 3', 1 3", the position in which the cutter 49 is about to cut off from the strip a section 52 ready printed as a coupon. As soon as the section 52 has been separated from the strip combination 13'/13", this is drawn back again by the feed roller pair 23 as far as is fixed by the leading-edge light barrier 47.3/48 or by a light barrier arrangement 54 which responds to lateral perforations 53 in the carrier strip 14'. The leading-edge position thus established is the starting position for printing coupons on the document line 3.It is understood that in this action the needle printing head unit 36 is positioned correctly relative to the strip combination 1 3'/1 3", which fact is ensured by the light barrier means 35.3 on the support plate 34 and the corresponding positioning projection 37' on the printing head slide 36.

After the input of specific coupon data into the above-mentioned keyboard of the device, the needle printing head 40 begins to print the letters.

Transverse movements of the needle printing head unit 36 which are necessary in so doing are effected by means of the processor-controlled stepping motor 42 via the toothed-belt arrangement 41. Printing is carried out starting from the coupon leading edge. The line feed is effected by means of the feed motor 28 of the roller pair 23. When the coupon to be produced has been printed out, the strip combination 13'/13" is advanced again into the position shown in Figure 1 and the projecting section 52 is detached and issued. By being drawn back once more the strip combination 1 3'/1 3" is ready for use again.

In the document line 3 there is, apart from the feed light barrier 54, an alerting and empty warning light barrier 55, by which the approaching end of the strip combination 1 3'/1 3" is first signalled and, if a new supply roll 13 is not introduced, at least the document line 3 is finally blocked.

After the printing operation has concluded for the above-mentioned coupon, the needle printing head unit 36 is moved into the document line 4, where it is to print onto the paper strip 14' a typical statement programmed in the processor.

Such an imprint can contain, for example, an indication of the type of coupon issued and its price, if need be also particulars of quantities issued, either individually and/or in total, amounts received, etc. The strip and printer are advanced, in principle, in the same way as described above with regard to the document line 3, by means of the processor-controlled motors 42 and 31. After the printing operation has concluded on the document line 4, the needle printing head unit 36 returns again into the illustrated starting position in the line 3, provided that a call for another document line has not been made.

The approaching end of the paper strip 14' is signalled by an empty warning switch 56. Since the running empty of the roll 14 does not prevent the document issue, a simultaneous machine cutoff does not need to be connected thereto.

Nevertheless, useful information for accounting and statistics can thus be lost, so that an additionalsfunction cut-off is optionally appropriate.

On the document line 3 an accounting and totalising printing operation which supplies statistical data can be called up, in addition to the above-mentioned coupon issue.

The mode of operation of the two document lines 1 and 2 can be explained together, since, in principle, identical starting materiais such as e.g.

card about 0.4 to 0.6 mm thick, in various forms and sizes, arrive at the two card stackers 11 and 12 for processing. Card stackers of the type which can be used in devices according to the invention are known in various models. A card stacker of this type is shown, somewhat enlarged, in Figure 2. Piled within a holding compartment limited by frame elements 60 are card blanks 61 of a configuration which fits into this holding compartment with a moderate lateral play. The bottom most card blank, referred to below as card 61' for the sake of simplicity, lies on a two-part table 62.1, 62.2. The stack of blanks 61 is loaded with a weighting plate 63 in order to ensure a close mutual contact between the blanks.In the direction of ejection of the blanks the walls 60' are spaced in relation to the surface by a dimension a which corresponds approximately to 1.5 times the card thickness. In the case of cards 0.4 mm thick this is 0.6 mm. The table part denoted by 62.1 is a sheet-like part of a magnet armature 64 which is guided on the stacker housing 66 by means of guide bars 65, so that the table part 62.1 is displaceable in the card ejection direction in the plane of the table part 62.2 which is connected fixedly to the stacker housing. The magnet armature 64 carries in parallel alignment with the guide bars 65 a magnet core 67 which, upon the energisation of a coil 68, is drawn into the bore of said coil.With the coil 68 non-energised, a compression spring 69 holds the moving table part 62.1 in a position of rest in which a stop plate 70 mounted on the surface of the moving table part is located substantially outside the stacking space. The thickness of the stop plate 70 corresponds to the thickness of the card 61'. By energising the coil 68 the armature core 67 is drawn into the coil and the bottommost card 61' is pushed out of the stack 61 by the stop plate 70 through a slit 71 (Figures 1 and 2).

The travel of this card discharge is given by the maximum depth of insertion of the magnet core 67 into the coil 68 and is at least large enough to ensure that the leading edge of the card 61' enters the region of engagement of the respective feed roller pair 1 5, 1 7 (Figure 1). Stack filling-level monitoring switches 72, 73 for alerting and empty warning are intended to cause the card stackers 11, 12 to be refilled or, in the case of an empty card stacker, to block the respective document line 1,2. It should be pointed out here that Figures 1 and 2 illustrate different possibilities of attaching the above-mentioned filling-level monitoring switches 72, 73 on the stacker housing.

The coil 68 (Figure 2) and the card feed motor 22 (Figure 1) are energised by means of the process computer practically simultaneously.

However, since only the coil 68 present in the selected card stacker 11 or 12 responds, despite the simultaneously turning feed roller pairs 1 5, 1 7 one card only is drawn out of the selected stacker and moved forwards under the respective holdingdown element 32.1 or 32.2. The needle printing head unit 36, also, moves simultaneously into the desired region of the selected document line 1 or 2, its final position being fixed exactly by the light barrier means 35.1 or 35.2 on the support plate 34 and by the positioning projection 37' on the slide 37. The card movement towards the printing region is stopped by the light barrier elements 47.1 or 47.2 and 48 which have meanwhile likewise come into alignment.After subsequent printing positioning, the needle printing head 40 can begin to write the card imprint, the letter feed being effected, again, by the motor 42 and the line feed by the motor 22.

After the print-out operation on the card has concluded, the needle printing head unit 36 is moved immediately into the document line 4, where it is to effect, in the same way as described in detail above for the document line 3, the recording of additional statistical data which is desired for security reasons. Simultaneously, the card is issued via the issuing slit 5. As already described above, after conclusion of the print-out operation in the document line 4 the needle printing head unit 36 travels back again into the starting position shown in Figure 1, provided that a call for another document line is not made.

It is understood that also where the foregoing description mentions only a "movement" for the sake of simplicity a whole complex of testing and selecting operations is included, these operations being executed or controlled by the microprocessor or process computer which, though mentionad, has not been described. The device contains, apart from the above-mentioned positioning means in the form of light barriers and limit switches, further limit and presence sensors which are, however, neither material to the invention nor of importance for illustrating the work cycles. Reference may merely be made to a so-called overrun stop for the movement of the needle printing head unit 36 to the left in Figure 1, where the return of the needle printing head unit 36 into its starting position in the document line 3 is effected because the positioning projection 37' on the slide 37 enters the light barrier means 35.5 on the support plate 34.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for printing and issuing tickets and vouchers or the like and providing an accounting print-out, comprising a plurality of storage devices arranged in production lines and for receiving blank material for forming tickets, vouchers or the like, and an accounting register, a plurality of conveying devices associated with respective storage devices and arranged to convey said blank material along a respective production line to a respective printing station, each production line having at least one feed limiting means for correctly positioning the respective blank material for the start of printing, a servo-motor driven transversely displaceably printing unit adapted to serve all said stations, and cross-positioning means being provided for correctly positioning said unit at said stations for the start of printing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said storage devices are arranged to receive card blanks or strip material, the or each storage device for card blanks being arranged as a card stacking device with a frame for centring the cards, the or each production line for strip material having near its issuing end a separating device for cutting vouchers or the like from said strip.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 including a single accounting register line is provided in operative association with a plurality of said production lines for recording sales data.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which each production line is provided with means for sensing exhaustion of the supply of blank material in the respective storage device.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims in which the printing unit includes a matrix printing head mounted on a slide guided by transverse guide rods, said servo-motor being adapted via a toothed belt drive to bring the slide into desired transverse positions relative to the production lines.

6. Apparatus for printing and issuing tickets and vouchers or the like and providing an accounting print-out, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.